“An accident, when she was a child,” Nicolas answered. “During an experiment.”
It was the right thing to say to propel Dahlia out of the car and into Lily’s arms. Nicolas slipped from the car and took Ryland’s outstretched hand. Ryland tugged and gave him a warrior’s embrace, releasing him abruptly.
“She’s been on pins and needles all morning,” Ryland reported. “I’ve never seen her like this. She even gave the staff orders left and right. That’s never done.”
“Dahlia’s the same. I didn’t think we’d make it here. She’s a bundle of nerves. She’s very afraid she might hurt someone or at the least, start a fire.”
“Believe me, Lily could care less. I think Dahlia’s like a long-lost sister to her.”
“Dahlia feels the same way,” Nicolas said. “Any news on Trevor Billings? Has the NCIS finished their investigation? The admiral came out a couple of weeks ago, but we haven’t heard since.”
Ryland shook his head. “Not completely. Billings has been arrested, and, of course, banned from Lombard Inc. Lombard is denying any knowledge of the things he was doing and they’re still investigating. Their lawyers dropped him like a hot potato. They want the company to come out of this squeaky-clean.”
“It’s possible they didn’t know anything at all about what he was doing,” Nicolas pointed out.
“Possible, but not probable that someone at the top didn’t have a clue,” Ryland said. “In any case, it isn’t our problem.” He put his arm around Lily, a signal for an introduction.
Lily pulled herself out of Dahlia’s arms, tears running down her face. “Dahlia, this is my husband, Ryland Miller. He’s a GhostWalker as well.”
Ryland ignored Dahlia’s outstretched hand and pulled her into his arms, giving her a hard, welcoming hug, completely ignoring her slight hesitation. “It’s great to finally meet the woman who conquered Nicolas.”
That made Dahlia laugh. “Is that what I’ve done?”
“He says so,” Ryland said, gently wiping the tears from Lily’s face and leaning in to kiss the corner of her mouth.
That small gesture won Dahlia’s heart. She couldn’t stop staring at Lily, at the beloved face, the eyes she remembered. And Lily was looking at her the same way.
Nicolas swept his arm around Dahlia’s waist. “You know you have.”
“Are you ready to go in the house, Dahlia?” Lily asked uncertainly. “I don’t want you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with. We’re very good at guarding emotions, so we can keep you from overload, but facing the house may be too much.”
Dahlia shook her head. “I thought I’d remember so much more. Nothing looks familiar to me.”
Lily took Dahlia’s hand. “The room will. The moment I found his hidden laboratory, I recognized our rooms. I hadn’t even remembered until that moment. I don’t want you to feel alone and violated and confused the way I did. I want to be with you, if you don’t mind.”
“I came to see you, Lily. I came to terms with my past a long time ago.” Dahlia wasn’t certain if that were completely true. She wanted it to be. Now that Lily was standing in front of her, she wasn’t certain she wanted to confront her past. She had a future. She still had one foot out the door, and thought of her relationship with Nicolas as tentative, but she knew he was fully committed and would do his best to help her. She thought having Nicolas would be enough. Now she wanted a family. She wanted to be part of something, and the GhostWalkers were welcoming her, treating her as a valued member. And there was Lily. Wonderful Lily.
“Have you spoken to Jesse Calhoun?” Lily asked as they turned to go into the house together.
Dahlia ignored the sudden tripping of her heart. “Yes, several times. He’s very upbeat. He told me he’s always written songs and plans to continue with that. He mentioned something about owning a radio station in his home-town. He’s going back there as soon as the hospital allows him to go. He didn’t tell me, but the director said he wouldn’t walk again.”
“I’ve spoken with him several times, and I’ve already begun working with him on building barriers in his mind.” Lily sighed. “It’s such a tragedy. Jesse is a good man. Ryland and I spent a great deal of time with him. He just doesn’t let anything get him down. I know he’ll come through this, but it’s sad.”
“The man I feel sorry for is Martin Howard,” Dahlia said. “He loved his brother. I saw it on his face. I think he might have let his brother kill him.”
Nicolas pressed a kiss to her temple. Dahlia had been so close to Roman Howard that his heart had been in his throat. He hadn’t dared to take his eye from the target, and there’d been no way to protect her from the raging violent energy that had surrounded her. He never wanted to feel that helpless again. “I wasn’t going to let that happen,” he said matter-of-factly, pushing away the memory of her convulsions and his fear of what kind of damage her physical response to violence might occur.
They walked through the enormous, intricately carved oak door into the entryway of the house. Dahlia found her mouth was dry. An older woman stood uncertainly, wringing her hands together and smiling, although she looked suspiciously close to tears. “Dahlia, this is Rosa. She’s been a mother to me all these years and keeps the house running,” Lily said.
Dahlia didn’t recognize the woman at all, but the name stirred memories. Of a nurse named Rosa who always took care of Lily. Milly had stayed with Dahlia just as Rosa had opted to stay with Lily. “I’m so pleased to meet you,” she murmured around the lump in her throat. She couldn’t quite decide how she felt. Her emotions were welling up out of nowhere, struggling to be recognized, but it was the last thing Dahlia wanted. She was not going to set fire to Lily’s house.
“It’s good you’ve come back to us, Miss Dahlia,” Rosa greeted.
The voice was in her head. She remembered it calling to Lily, pulling her away from Dahlia in the middle of the night. She remembered the pain in her head, nearly splitting it open, the shards of glass being driven into her skull. At once her temperature began to rise and the pressure in her chest increased. Dahlia halted. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea. It could be dangerous.”
“This house belongs to all of us, Dahlia,” Lily said firmly. “It’s stood up to all of our various problems and it can stand up to yours. Won’t it, Rosa?”